Every so often there is some discussion of whether or not it is appropriate for Spock to call our favorite communications officer "Miss Urura" rather than "Lt. Uhura" or just "Uhura".

I've used the phrase several times in STNV, and my doing so is based on Spock's usage on TOS. This morning I thought I would amuse myself by tracking down those uses, and discovered, much to my amusement, that Spock first calls her that in "The Man Trap". Which was the first broadcast episode, making "Miss Uhura" literally Spock's first spoken words in the series!

Thing is, while we are used to serviceMEN calling each other "Mister", even after all these years there is resistance to "Miss".

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I've noticed that in police and military dramas.

There was a BBC show a few years ago called RED CAP. A red cap is a UK military police officer (British Army, the others, i.e. RAF Police, are called snowdrops due to a white cap). The show featured the Special Investigation Branch (SIB), the detective unit within the British Army.

It didn't run long. But there was a lot of "Mister Vicary" or "Mister Howard", but not sure that any of the female officers were referred to as "Miss".

I bet Spock's colleagues were shocked how easy going and informal he is (for a Vulcan). "Doctor Spock is the name of my paternal forbear, Ensign. As there is no pressing logical reason for formality, Mister Spock will be sufficient." Then he snorted a line of cane sugar.

I was 8 when I saw TWOK on its original release, yet the 'Mr. Saavik' references didn't register with me until I read the DC adaptation of 'ST III'.I also wondered if it was some Vulcan custom to avoid using 'female' titles.

What about "Sir" being used to address women? I'm not as familiar with TOS, but I'm sure I recall an episode of TNG where a female ensign referred to Dr. Crusher as "Sir" (as in answering a question Crusher asked with "yes, Sir!").

Traditions. These started when there were no female in the military, nor were there ever expected to be, and so male references were a matter of fact.

I only have personal feelings on this, not any experience or military knowledge, but I would think that gender appropriate forms of address would be the norm, as men and women are not the same. But I reckon answering "yes, sir" to a superior officer of either gender would be pardonable.

ITEM: Just to point out (that dead horse needs more beating), let's remember how Kirk addressed his senior staff...

Mr. Spock

Mr. Scott

Mr. Sulu

Mr. Chekov

I don't recall Kirk ever addressing Uhura as anything but "Lieutenant" or "Uhura", but I am not in the least discomfited by having her called Ms. Uhura. It would be consistent, to be certain.

Yeah, so do I, although I find myself wondering if he ever actually did. No specific bells go off in my head when I try to recall an episode where he said it. "Miss Uhura" was much more of a Spock thing. Kirk usually went with "Lieutentant", or just "Uhura".

When I was an enlisted soldier back in the mid 80's, I only remember Ma'am or Sir for officers or we addressed them by their rank. I seem to remember that among the officers they did the same and for us enlisted they would call us by our last names for the most part.